"Felix."


    Felix nced at Wilbur, before turning to Babbit respectfully. "Yes, Master."


    "Come with me."


    Babbit led Felix away, before saying, "I do intend to take Wilbur in as a member of the family, but you saw what happened. Since he''s your master, do you know what he likes? I can give it to him, whatever it is. In return, I''d like you to convince Wilbur to stay. If he''s still determined to leave after ten days, I won''t force him to do otherwise."


    "Oh..."


    Felix hesitated. "Master, Wilbur wants nothing more than to improve his cultivation. If you let him stay in the Azure Dragon Lake to cultivate, I''m sure he''ll be willing to stay."


    "Very well. Tell him that he can cultivate in theke anytime he wants, as long as he stays. I''m looking for a strong warrior to be part of my army and would be thrilled to have him."


    Babbitughed loudly, then turned to leave. He knew that if Wilbur was still intent on leaving after ten days, there would be no convincing him even if Babbit was to get on his knees. This gave Babbit no choice but topromise. Wilbur wanted to cultivate, so that was what Babbit was going to give him.


    The arrangement did not need to be asting one. Once Babbit had gotten rid of all his opponents in Buck Town in the next decade, he would then get rid of Wilbur and Felix.


    Ten years was hardly a long time for a cultivator, and Babbit did not think that Wilbur would be able to improve his cultivation by much in such a short amount of time either. Babbit would just see this as having a guard dog around, one that he would kill in ten years and then gain power over Buck Town.


    Babbit moved his fingers as he walked away, and the web on the back of Wilbur''s neck began to fade. The light returned in Wilbur''s eyes, and he looked around wildly. "What the... Where am I?"


    Felix walked up to Wilbur, looking at him solemnly. "This is the Azure Dragon Lake, Master."


    "Master?"


    Wilbur snorted at Felix, turning away. "I don''t think you should keep calling me that, Mister Horne. I don''t think I deserve your respect to that extent."


    Felix grabbed Wilbur by the shoulders as tears welled up in his eyes. "It''s not what you think, Master. If I had wanted to betray you, why would I even have bothered to stop Babbit from killing you the first time he came looking for us at nter Lake? Please believe me onest time, Master."


    Wilbur thought of what happened in the past as he stared at Felix, his resolve wavering. It was true that Felix had saved his life. Babbit would never have let him live otherwise.


    Wilbur looked away. "Well, why did you pretend not to know me at the bar, then? Do you really think so lowly of me now?"


    Felix sighed. "I had to protect myself too, Master. Babbit was growing suspicious of me. Everyone else sees me as the head steward of the Reyne family, but they don''t know what I''ve really been through. I know too many of Babbit''s secrets, and he''s plotted to kill me several times now. I would have dragged you down with me if I hadn''t pretended we were strangers."